Explora Journeys has celebrated the delivery of Explora III at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. The vessel is the third ship built by Fincantieri, a global leader in complex shipbuilding, for Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel brand.
With the delivery of Explora III, three of the six vessels planned for the fleet are now in service, while the remaining three are all under construction and will enter service within the next two years – Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, followed by Explora VI in 2028 – completing the fleet programme entrusted to Fincantieri.
Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, stated: “Explora III is a symbol of a Liguria that continues to grow, invest, and strengthen its role as a leading player in the blue economy. We are investing hundreds of millions of euros in the Sestri Ponente shipyard because we want to make it one of the most advanced shipbuilding hubs in the Mediterranean, further reinforcing Liguria’s leadership in a strategic sector for economic growth and employment.”
Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fincantieri, said: “Explora III demonstrates Fincantieri’s ability to drive the transformation of shipbuilding through innovation, sustainability and the adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels. The introduction of the first LNG-powered vessel into the fleet marks an important milestone in this journey and reflects our commitment to developing increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. The construction of these ships demonstrates the value of an industrial ecosystem that brings together large companies, SMEs and local communities. The Sestri Ponente shipyard, together with the wider Ligurian supply chain, represents a unique concentration of expertise and skills that enables the creation of increasingly advanced vessels capable of showcasing the very best of Made in Italy excellence around the world.”
All vessels are equipped with shore power connectivity, enabling engines to be switched off and reducing emissions to virtually zero while in port.
Explora III is the first vessel in the fleet – together with the ships to follow in the series – to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel capable of reducing sulphur oxide emissions by 99%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%, particulate matter emissions by 98% and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% compared with conventional marine fuels. The vessels are also capable of operating on renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. Explora V and Explora VI will additionally feature fuel cells, an innovative technology capable of generating energy more efficiently and supporting the industry’s pathway towards net-zero emissions, ahead of the industry’s 2050 target.
Designed and built under supervision of RINA Classification Society, Explora III has received a number of additional notations recognising its environmental performance and passenger comfort. These include the “Green Plus” notation for high environmental standards and the “Comfort Noise and Vibration” notation for low onboard noise and vibration levels. The vessel has also received the “Dolphin” notation, recognising efforts to minimise underwater radiated noise in environmentally sensitive marine areas, as well as Polar Code C certification, enabling operations in polar regions.
Liguria plays a central role in Fincantieri’s industrial ecosystem and represents one of the leading hubs of Italian shipbuilding. Around 800 suppliers operate within the Group’s supply chain across the region, alongside its more than 3,600 employees, generating significant economic benefits throughout the wider value chain. In this context, the Sestri Ponente shipyard, dedicated to cruise ship construction, represents a centre of excellence for Italian shipbuilding. Since 2003, it has delivered 18 vessels and currently has an orderbook extending through to 2037. The Explora Journeys fleet programme reflects both the excellence of Made in Italy and the ability of the Ligurian maritime cluster to develop advanced technological solutions for the future of the cruise industry.
